Clean Tech in Court: Green Patent Complaint Update

A number of green patent complaints have been filed in the last several weeks in the areas of biofuels production, recycled food service products, LEDs, reusable diapers, water conservation, and gas conversion technology.

The ‘084 Patent is entitled “Thermostable glucoamylase” and directed to an isolated glucoamylase enzyme which has higher thermal stability than prior glucoamylases. The patent also claims starch conversion processes using the enzyme.

The accused product is a glucoamylase enzyme called BOLI GA 130, used for producing glucose from starch in fuel ethanol production and other industrial processes.

Recycled, Compostable Food Service Products

Eco-Products, Inc. v. World Centric

Eco-Products, a Boulder, Colorado, company that makes food service products such as cups, containers, plates, and utensils, from renewable and recycled resources, has asserted four design patents against competitor World Centric.

The ‘483 Patent is entitled “Double gusset cloth diaper along with method for making the same” and directed to a reusable diaper including an exterior panel having a surrounding outer edge margin, an interior panel comprising micro-chamois material and joined to the outer edge margin, and an absorbent pad removably insertable between the interior and exterior panels.

The patented diaper has a first gusset diaper to form a first seal between the inner surface and the legs of the user and a second gusset attached proximate the first gusset.

Kanga Care’s complaint was filed October 11, 2013 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, and the accused produts are GoGreen’s Champ cloth diapers using dual gusset technology.

Water Conservation

D.S. Magic Tech LLC v. Green Light Energy Conservation LLC

D.S. Magic Tech, a New York corporation that installs and distributes water conservation products, sued Green Light for alleged infringement of U.S. Patent No. 8,511,347 (‘347 Patent).

The ‘347 Patent is entitled “Tamper-resistant water flow restriction system” and directed to a flow restrictor assembly and method for installing the assembly in a shower. The invention prevents tampering by concealing the flow restrictor assembly behind a shower wall, attached directly to a water supply line.

The complaint was filed in federal court in Brooklyn, New York on October 8, 2013, and accuses Green Light of selling flow restrictor assemblies and related services that infringe the ‘347 Patent.

Gas Conversion

Sasol North America, Inc. v. GTLpetrol LLC

Sasol North America (Sasol) is a Houston corporation, and part of South African company Sasol Technology. Sasol designs and operates gas-to-liquid (GTL) plants for converting natural gas to higher value liquid hydrocarbons such as diesel.

On October 3, 2013 Sasol filed a declaratory judgment action in federal court in Houston, Texas for a judgment that it does not infringe U.S. Patent No. 6,534,551 (‘551 Patent), to which GTLpetrol has license rights, and that the ‘551 Patent is invalid.

‘The ‘551 Patent is entitled “Process and apparatus for the production of synthesis gas” and directed to a process for the production of synthesis gas from a hydrocarbon fuel and steam and/or oxygen where at least part of the required steam is provided by heat exchange against exhaust gas from a gas turbine driving an air separation unit (ASU), and the ASU supplys at least part of the oxygen.

According to the complaint, GTLpetrol met with Sasol about the possibility of partnering on construction of a GTL plant in the United States, but Sasol was unimpressed with the smaller company’s technology proposals and eventually terminated discussions.

Almost two years later, the complaint says, GTLpetrol sent Sasol a cease and desist letter referring to the ‘551 Patent and alleging misappropriation of trade secrets. That letter led to this lawsuit by Sasol.

LEDs

Nichia Corporation v. Everlight Electronics Co.

On September 11, 2013 Nichia sued Everlight Electronics in federal court in Marshall, Texas for alleged infringement of U.S. Patent No. 7,432,589 (‘589 Patent). The complaint alleges that Everlight’s LED model 61-238/RSGBB7C-B02/ET infringes the ‘589 Patent.

The ‘589 Patent is directed to a semiconductor device capable of preventing an adhesive for die bonding from flowing to a wire bonding area. The semiconductor device includes a housing wherein the wall is formed to extend across the bottom surface of a recess so as to divide the surface of the first lead electrode into a die bonding area and a wire bonding area.

This is not the first lawsuit between these LED rivals (see, e.g., here).

Trustees of Boston University LED lawsuits

Boston University launched a huge series of patent infringement lawsuits on September 20, 2013 in federal court in Boston. There are about 35 new suits – too many to list and upload all the complaints, though they are all very similar and all assert the same patent. Here are a couple of exemplary complaints: BU – Acer Complaint; BU – Canon Complaint.